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Big Data: Competition Policy and Law (LAWS90166)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2024
Overview
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Big Data is a big deal in today’s digital data-driven economy. Together with Big Analytics, it is increasingly central to strategic decision-making as companies strive for a 'data advantage' over rivals. Data-driven mergers are on the rise and there are growing risks of algorithmic coordination with anti-competitive effects. Data-based business strategies have significant implications for competition policy and law. Competition authorities around the world are grappling with big questions regarding data in defining markets and assessing market power. Close attention is being paid to questions concerning the collection and use of data in the settings of merger review and abuse of dominance and cartel investigations. At the same time, the intersection between competition, consumer protection and privacy is raising important institutional questions for the allocation and coordination of policy, regulatory and legal responses.
This subject will explore global developments in this complex and fast-moving field. Drawing on the latest literature and major cases and inquiries, it will equip students to critically engage with and meet the challenges posed for business and its advisors and for policymakers, regulators and law enforcers in the Big Data era.
Principal topics will include:
- Defining Big Data
- Debating the competitive significance of Big Data
- Competition law tools in the era of Big Data
- Big Data and merger review
- Big Data and abuse of dominance
- Big Data and collusion
- Regulating Big Data
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students will:
- have an advanced and integrated understanding of the nature and significance of Big Data, its related technologies and the actors in its eco-system for competition policy and law;
- be able to critically examine and analyse the application of competition law tools in the context of data-driven business strategies and transactions;
- be an informed and engaged participant in important debates about the role of Big Data in competition policy and law and the need to adapt rules and tools to accommodate this role;
- have sophisticated cognitive and technical skills that equip them to apply and communicate their learning in the contexts of merger review, abuse of dominance and collusion;
- appreciate the institutional synergies and tensions between the fields of competition, consumer protection and privacy as policy and regulatory responses to Big Data business models; and
- have an advanced capacity to use the knowledge and skills students have gained in the subject in a way that demonstrates effective autonomy, judgment, adaptability and responsibility as an expert learner and practitioner in the field of global competition and consumer law.
Last updated: 10 November 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Previous studies and/or relevant work experience in competition law is required for this subject.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 10 November 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Class participation based on contribution to discussion throughout the teaching period and on leading the discussion on an assigned topic | Throughout the teaching period | 20% |
A research paper (maximum 7,5000 words), on a topic agreed with the subject coordinator
| Due by 5pm on 4 February 2020 | 80% |
| Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 10 November 2023
Dates & times
Not available in 2024
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a first come, first served basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Last updated: 10 November 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Recommended texts and other resources
Materials will be provided by Melbourne Law School.
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 10 November 2023